Daily Thought for October 12th

October 12, 2011

The Spiritual Principle of

Having Virtue

Today’s Thought:

“Always do right.  This will gratify some people and astonish the rest.”  – Mark Twain

Today’s Quote:

“He lives in fame that died in virtue’s cause.”  – William Shakespeare

Today’s Question:

Did you know that; “Virtue is harder to be got than knowledge of the world: and, if lost in a young man, is seldom recovered?” – John Locke

Today’s Bible Verses:            Micah 6:8, Titus 1:15-16  & Matthew 5:3-10

He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.  Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Today’s Spiritual Thought:

“The best portion of a good man’s life.

His little, nameless, unremembered acts

Of kindness and of love."  –  William Wordsworth

What is virtue?  According to Webster’s Dictionary virtue is, “A general moral goodness; right action and thinking; uprightness; rectitude; morality: A particular moral quality regarded as good or meritorious.”

These are character qualities that should be evidenced in all Christians.  They reflect the attributes of the ‘Fruits of the Spirit,’ which should be present in us all.  “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” – The Bible (Galatians 5:22-23)

John Adams said, “The happiness of man, as well as his dignity, consists in virtue.”

To please God we need to strive to live virtuously.  Of course we know our best attempts often fall short, and that is why we need His assistance.

Boethius had a good aim in life, “My will is to live worthily as long as I live, and after my life to leave them that should come after, my memory in good works.”  This should be our aim too.  We need to do our best and employ our energies and efforts to please God by living a virtuous life.

Today’s Prayer:

Father, may I live a virtuous life, pleasing to you and reflecting to others who you are and what you mean to me.